Send vs. Sending — What's the Difference?

"Send" is the base or infinitive form of the verb, typically used to describe the action in a general sense. It can be used in simple present, past, and future tenses to indicate the act of causing something or someone to go to a specified place. For instance, "I send letters every month." On the other hand, "sending" is the present participle or gerund form of "send," used to describe the action as it is happening or in continuous tenses, as well as to function as a noun. For example, "I am sending an email right now."

In terms of usage, "send" is often seen in imperative sentences, where commands or requests are made, such as "Send me the report by noon." Meanwhile, "sending" is used in progressive tense constructions to indicate an action that is currently in progress, e.g., "She is sending out invitations."

The verb "send" can also pair with modal verbs to express necessity, possibility, or intention, such as in "We must send aid immediately." Conversely, "sending" is frequently used with auxiliary verbs like "am," "is," or "are" to form the present continuous tense, reflecting actions that are ongoing, e.g., "They are sending reinforcements."

"Send" is versatile and can also appear in infinitive phrases used to express purpose or intention, for example, "To send a message clearly." In contrast, "sending" can act as a noun to denote the act or process of dispatching something, as in "The sending of troops was a decisive action."

Despite their different forms and uses, both "send" and "sending" revolve around the concept of dispatching, transmitting, or causing something to move from one place to another, with the main distinction lying in their grammatical function and the aspect of time they convey.